Minimizing the time required to initiate and terminate an instant messaging session

ABSTRACT

A system for minimizing the time required to initiate and terminate an instant messaging session. An initial message in an instant messaging session is checked to determine whether it has any significant content. If the received initial message has insignificant content, then a non-intrusive notification is provided to the user, without changing the current focus in the user interface. A pre-composed response message may also be automatically transmitted to the initiating user, requesting that a more significant message be sent. When an initial message in an instant messaging session is received that is determined to have significant content, the user is promptly notified in a different manner, which may be intrusive such that the current focus of the user interface is changed to a new window or the like containing the newly initiated instant messaging session.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to synchronous communicationsystems, such as instant messaging software systems, and morespecifically to a method and system for minimizing the time required toinitiate and terminate an instant messaging session.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As it is generally known, instant messaging systems are softwareapplications that enable the exchange of messages in a real-timecommunication session between two or more people over a communicationnetwork such as the Internet. Instant messaging is a synchronouscommunication technology, requiring all participants in a communicationsession to be logged onto their instant messaging service during thesession. Also referred to as “chatting,” instant messaging has becomevery popular for both business and personal use.

Instant messaging systems maintain and distribute the on-line status ofusers. Instant messaging client programs automatically set and/or enableusers to set their on-line status to indicate that they are currentlyavailable for an instant messaging session (“on-line”, “available”,etc.), or that they are not currently available for an instant messagingsession (“away from desk”, “do not disturb”, etc.). When a user hasindicated that they are available for an instant messaging session,other users are informed of that user's availability, and thusunderstand that they can initiate an instant messaging session with thatuser. When an instant messaging session is initiated by an initiatinguser with a target user, the target user receives a notification, thespecific type of which depends on the target user's preferences. Onecommon type of notification is the generation of a pop-up dialog windowgenerated immediately in the user interface of the target user.

In existing systems, because of the synchronous nature of instantmessaging, when an instant messaging session is initiated, the targetuser is interrupted. At the time a session is initiated, the target useris often working on something else, but the newly generated instantmessaging session window in the user interface requires the completeattention of the target user. The target user must accordinglyimmediately change contexts, and start thinking about somethingcompletely different from what they were working on.

A related problem is the habit many users have of initiating an instantmessaging session with an initial message that includes little or nomeaningful content. For example, many initial instant messaging sessionmessages include only insignificant text consisting of “Hi”, “Hello”,“Are you there?”, “Do you have a minute?”, or the like. In thesesituations the target user is interrupted, and may be blocked fromcontinuing with their work. The target user cannot continue with theirreal work, but cannot substantively respond to the instant messagingsession initiator (other than by responding with more insignificanttext, such as “Hi”, “What's up?”, etc.), since they don't know what theinitiator of the session wants. The resulting delay before substantivecommunication can begin takes significant time, especially if theinitiating user still needs to type in a whole paragraph of text fortheir first question after the target user responds to the initialinsignificant message.

Another problem with existing systems arises when an instant messagingsession is terminated. When a local user terminates a session, theyoften will enter a final, closing message including a relatively shortterm, expression and/or acronym used to express farewell such as “bye”,“see ya”, “ttyl” (“talk to you later”), “bfn” (“bye for now”), “thx”(“thanks”), or the like, and then immediately close the user interfacewindow through which the session has been provided to them on theirlocal client computer system. At this time, the user that terminated thesession in this way typically desires to immediately turn theirattention to another task. However, in existing systems, when one of theother participants in the just terminated instant messaging sessionsends a farewell message back to the local user, the local user's clientcomputer system generates a visual alert to the local user indicatingreceipt of the farewell message. As a result, the local user must takean action in response to the alert, such as again closing an instantmessaging session window. This series of events delays the local userfrom promptly turning their attention to a new task or resuming a taskthey were previously performing.

Given that instant messaging will continue to be used in many contexts,and that it will continue to cause interruptions of target users wheninstant messaging sessions are initiated, and delay users from turningtheir attention to other tasks when instant messaging sessions areterminated, it would be desirable to have a new system that minimizesthe unnecessary time taken up during the initiation of a new instantmessaging session resulting from the use of initial messages that lacksignificant content, and during the termination of an instant messagingsession while insignificant farewell messages are exchanged.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To address the above described and other shortcomings of the prior art,a new method and system are disclosed for minimizing the time requiredto initiate and terminate an instant messaging session. In the disclosedsystem, an initial message in an instant messaging session is checked todetermine whether it contains significant content. If the receivedinitial message has insignificant content, then a non-intrusivenotification is provided to the user. The non-intrusive usernotification provided by the disclosed system may be user configurable.One example of a non-intrusive user notification includes visuallydisplaying an icon or the like in the user interface, without changingthe current focus in the user interface. Another example of anon-intrusive user notification is generation of a sound, also withoutchanging the current user interface focus. Any specific type ofnon-intrusive user notification may be provided by the disclosed systemin response to detection of a received initial instant message withinsignificant content. In contrast, when an initial message in aninstant messaging session is received that is determined to havesignificant content, the user is promptly notified in a differentmanner, which may be intrusive such that the current focus of the userinterface is changed to a new window or the like containing the newlyinitiated instant messaging session.

During processing of a message determined to have insignificant content,the disclosed system may cause a pre-composed response message to beautomatically transmitted to the initiating user. The specific responsemessage that is automatically sent may be set up or selected by theuser, and may, for example, inform the initiating user that the initialmessage was received, but that the target user desires that a moresignificant message now be sent, to which the target user will respondsubstantively.

The determination of whether a received initial message in an instantmessaging session has insignificant content may be based on a number ofpre-set and/or user configurable criteria. For example, the disclosedsystem may be embodied such that the number of words in an initialinstant messaging session message are counted. If the number of words inthe initial message does not meet or exceed a threshold value, then themessage is determined to include an insignificant amount of content.Certain insignificant words may be excluded from the counting. Examplesof such insignificant words that may be excluded include “Hi”, “Hello”,etc., and may be selected or defined by the user.

Determination of insignificant content in an initial instant message inan instant messaging session may also be based on the identity of theinitiating user. In this way the target user can indicate that initialmessages from one or more other specific users are to always beconsidered to have insignificant content. Conversely, the target usercan indicate that initial instant messaging session messages fromanother set of users are to never be considered to have insignificantcontent. Similarly, in another embodiment of the disclosed system, theuser is enabled to list those users to which insignificant contentfiltering is to be applied when those users send an initial instantmessage in a new instant messaging session.

Determination of insignificant content may further be based on previoussession history. For example, if an initiating user has repeatedly usedinsignificant content messages to initiate more than some thresholdnumber of instant messaging sessions in the past, then the disclosedsystem may enter the initiating user into a list of users from whichinitial instant messages are to be checked for insignificant content, orfor which only non-intrusive instant messaging session notifications areto be provided when they initiate new instant messaging sessions.

The disclosed system may also count the number of insignificant contentmessages received from an initiating user when attempting to initiate aninstant messaging session. In such an embodiment, if the number ofinsignificant content messages sent to initiate a single session exceedsa predetermined value, then an intrusive instant messaging sessionnotification is generated to the target user.

The relationship between the target user and the initiating user in ahierarchy of users may also be user by the disclosed system to determinewhether an initial instant message in an instant messaging system hasinsignificant content. For example, the relationship between the targetuser and the initiating user may be determined from the contents of ahierarchical directory of users, such as an LDAP (Lightweight DirectoryAccess Protocol) directory or the like representing employees in abusiness organization. Such a hierarchical representation of users, may,for example, indicate the relationships between employees or other userswithin a business organization or the like. This feature can be used tocause initial instant messages received from initiating users at higherlevels in the user hierarchy than the target user to always result in anintrusive instant messaging session notification to the target user.

In another aspect of the disclosed system, the time taken to terminatean instant messaging session is also reduced. To reduce the time takento terminate an instant messaging session, the disclosed system may beembodied to detect instant messages containing only insignificantfarewell terms, expressions, and/or acronyms (e.g. “bye”, “see ya”,“ttyl” (talk to you later), “bfn” (bye for now), “thx” (thanks), or thelike), and to operate in response to such received insignificantfarewell messages in a way that does not disturb the local user (e.g. byignoring them). As a result, if the local user has previously closed theinstant messaging session window containing the session for which theinsignificant farewell message was received, no alert indication ofreceipt of the message (e.g. new instant messaging window, icon in thetaskbar, etc.) is generated. Such system behavior may, in oneembodiment, be defined through definition of one or more appropriatemessage processing rules by the local user.

In another aspect of the disclosed system, termination of an instantmessaging session by the local user is detected (e.g. when the localuser closes the user interface window providing the instant messagingsession), causes the disclosed system to enter a “terminated by user”state for a predetermined and/or user configurable time period (e.g. afew seconds or minutes). During the “terminated by user” state, thedisclosed system analyzes the content of instant messages received fromparticipants in the just terminated instant messaging session, based onsession termination logic, such as a set of session termination rules.The session termination logic used during the “terminated by user” stateallows for checking for insignificant messages made up or includingspecified insignificant farewell terms, expressions, and/or acronyms,and for special handling in response to detection of such insignificantfarewell messages. Such special session termination processing mayinclude not counting insignificant farewell content towards a minimummessage word count, generating a special termination relatedauto-response message, and/or other appropriate session terminationrelated actions. Thus there is disclosed a new system for new systemthat minimizes unnecessary time taken up during the initiation andtermination of an instant messaging session.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The subject matter regarded as the invention is particularly pointed outand distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification.The invention, both as to organization and method of operation, togetherwith objects, features, and advantages thereof, may best be understoodby reference to the following detailed description when read with theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing hardware and software components in anillustrative embodiment of the disclosed system;

FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing steps performed during operation of anillustrative embodiment of the disclosed system;

FIG. 3 is a portion of a user interface provided by an illustrativeembodiment of the disclosed system to enable a user to indicate howinitial instant messages in instant messaging sessions are to bedetermined to have insignificant content;

FIG. 4 is a portion of a user interface provided by an illustrativeembodiment of the disclosed system to enable a user to indicate howinitial instant messages in instant messaging sessions are to be handledif they have insignificant content; and

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing steps performed by an illustrativeembodiment of the disclosed system to limit time taken during instantmessaging session termination.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing software and hardware components in anillustrative embodiment of the disclosed system. As shown in FIG. 1,software and hardware components in an illustrative embodiment of thedisclosed system include a target user client computer system 10associated with target user 12. The target user client computer system12 includes a user interface 14 through which an intrusive instantmessaging session notification and a non-intrusive instant messagingsession notification 18 are provided to the target user 12. The userinterface 14 is generated at least in part by the instant messagingapplication client software 20 executing on the target user clientcomputer system 10. The user interface 14 may be any specific type ofinteractive user interface, such as, for example, a graphical userinterface including multiple, movable application windows and icons. Theuser interface 14 may be navigated using any specific type of userinterface device, such as a computer keyboard or mouse, and/or usingvoice commands or the like.

In the example of FIG. 1, an initial instant message 60 is sent onbehalf of the initiating user A 44 by the initiating user A clientcomputer system 46, in order to start a new instant messaging sessionbetween the initiating user A 44 and target user 12. The initial instantmessage 60 may be formatted and/or communicated consistent with anyspecific public or proprietary instant messaging protocol and/orservice, as appropriate for a given embodiment of the disclosed system,such as, for example, XMPP (EXtensible Messaging and Presence Protocol),IRC (Internet Relay Chat), and the like.

The intrusive instant messaging session notification 16 is generated bythe instant messaging application client software 20 in response toreceipt of the initial instant message 60, and further in response to adetermination by the insignificant initial message filter logic 22 inthe instant messaging application client software 20 that the initialinstant message 60 includes significant content. The specific type ofuser notification provided in the intrusive instant messaging sessionnotification 16 may be configurable by the target user 12, for examplethrough the user configuration and preferences settings 26, or may bepre-set within the client software 20. For example, in one embodiment,the intrusive instant messaging session notification 16 may interruptthe target user 12 from whatever task he or she is performing at thetime the initial instant message 60 is received. In such an embodiment,generation of the intrusive instant messaging session notification 16 bythe instant messaging application client software 20 changes the currentuser interface “focus” to a new pop-up window display object or the likethrough which the new instant messaging session is provided to thetarget user 12. Since the current user interface focus controls whichuser interface display object (e.g. window, menu, dialog box etc.) isaffected by key strokes or mouse movements performed by target user 12,changing the current user interface focus to the new pop-up windowproviding the new instant messaging system within the user interface 14enables the target user 12 to immediately begin participating in the newinstant messaging session. Such a newly generated pop-up up window inthe intrusive session notification 16 also displays the contents of theinitial instant message 60 to the target user 12.

The non-intrusive instant messaging session notification 18 is generatedby the instant messaging application client software 20 in response toreceipt of the initial instant message 60, and further in response to adetermination by the insignificant initial message filter logic 22 inthe instant messaging application client software 20 that the initialinstant message 60 has insignificant content. The specific type of usernotification provided in the non-intrusive instant messaging sessionnotification 18 may be configurable by the target user 12, for examplethrough the user configuration and preferences settings 26, or may bepre-set within the client software 20. In one embodiment, thenon-intrusive session notification 18 does not interrupt the target user12 from the task he or she is performing at the time the initial instantmessage 60 is received. In such an embodiment, generation of thenon-intrusive instant messaging session notification 18 by the instantmessaging application client software 20 does not change the currentuser interface focus from the current user interface window or otheruser interface display object in which they are working when the initialinstant message 60 is received. Instead, a visual indication of the newinstant messaging session, such as an icon or the like is displayed in apredetermined area of the user interface 14 such as a task bar or thelike. The icon may be blinking, bold, or in some other way made visuallyprominent. The target user 12 can then click on the visual indication ofthe new instant messaging session in the non-intrusive instant messagingsession notification 18 to begin participating in the new instantmessaging session. Alternatively, or in addition, an audiblenotification may be provided through the non-intrusive instant messagingsession notification 18, such as a beep or other sound. Significantly,the target user 12 is not forced to immediately begin participating inthe new instant messaging session if the initial instant message 60 doesnot contain significant content. Those skilled in the art will recognizethat an icon and/or audible signal are just two examples of how thedisclosed system can be embodied to provide a non-intrusive instantmessaging session notification, and that any other non-intrusive displayor signal may be used in the alternative to these example non-intrusivenotifications.

The determination of whether the initial instant message 60 hasinsignificant content may be based on a user configurable or pre-set setof inputs. The specific tests for whether a received initial instantmessage contains insignificant content may be defined by the target user12, for example through the user defined insignificant message detectionand processing rules 24. In one embodiment, the determination of whetherthe initial instant message 60 includes insignificant content is basedon the number of words in the initial instant message 60. If the numberof words is less than a user configured or pre-set threshold, then theinitial instant message 60 is determined to contain insignificantcontent. Additionally, certain insignificant words may be excluded fromthe words counted in the initial instant message 60. For example, theset of insignificant words that are not counted might be configured orpre-set to include words such as “Hi”, “Hello”, and/or the name of thetarget user 12. Accordingly, if such a word count threshold is set, forexample, at six (6), then initial instant message containinginsignificant phrases such as “Hi”, “Hello”, “Are you there?”, “Do youhave a minute?”, and the like would be determined to have insignificantcontent.

Alternatively, or in addition, the test for whether the initial instantmessage in a session contains insignificant content may be based on theidentity of the user initiating the session. For example, the targetuser 12 may define a permitted user list 28 indicating certain usersfrom which initial instant messages are never to be consideredinsignificant. This enables target user 12 to define a “white list” ofusers that are relatively important, and to which he or she wishes torespond immediately regardless of the significance or insignificance ofthe initial instant message content. Similarly, a blocked user list 30may be defined indicating certain users from which initial instantmessages are always to be considered insignificant. This enables targetuser 12 to define a “black list” of users that are relativelyunimportant, and whose initial instant messages are always to bedetermined to have insignificant content. Alternatively, a list of userssuch as the blocked user list 30 may be used to identify the set ofusers from whom received initial instant messages are to always bechecked for insignificant content, whereas initial instant messages fromall other users are to always be determined to include significantcontent.

Previous instant messaging session history 32 may also, oralternatively, be used when determining whether the initial instantmessage 60 includes insignificant content. Based on such sessionhistory, the disclosed system may be embodied to learn which initiatingusers are likely to send initial instant messages that haveinsignificant content, and to handle subsequent initial messages fromsuch users differently as a result. For example, if an initiating userattempts to initiate more than a configured or pre-set threshold numberof instant messaging sessions by using an initial instant message thatcontains insignificant content, that may trigger an embodiment of thedisclosed system to either begin checking all subsequent initial instantmessages from that user for insignificant content, or to automaticallydetermine that all subsequent initial instant messages from that userhave insignificant content.

One or more pre-composed auto-response message(s) 34 may be selected orconfigured by target user 12 for automatic transmission to an initiatinguser in response to a determination that an initial instant message hasinsignificant content. This enables the target user 12 to pre-define amessage including text requesting a significant message, such as “Thisis an auto-response to inform you that I have received your message.Please send me your specific question and I will attempt to answer it”.Accordingly, in the case where the initial instant message 60 receivedfrom initiating user A 44 is determined to have insignificant content,the disclosed system would cause the automatically generated responsemessage 62 to be transmitted to the initiating user A 44. The initiatinguser A 44 would then be caused provide a substantive message within thesubsequent instant messaging session messages 64.

The disclosed system can further be embodied to check messages receivedsubsequent to a first initial instant message in a session forinsignificant content. In one embodiment, if the initiating user sendsmore than a user configured or pre-set threshold number of messagesattempting to establish an instant messaging session with the targetuser 12, then the intrusive instant messaging session notification 16 isautomatically generated. Until the threshold is reached, only thenon-intrusive instant messaging session notification 18 is generated. Insuch an embodiment, the insignificant message counter(s) 35 are used todetermine whether the threshold number of insignificant messages hasbeen reached.

In another embodiment of the disclosed system, the determination ofwhether the initial instant message 60 has insignificant content may bealternatively or additionally responsive to a relationship between thetarget user 12 and the initiating user A 44 in a hierarchy of users. Forexample, the target user 12 and initiating user A 44 may both beemployees of a business organization having a hierarchical structure.Such a hierarchical structure may be represented by a hierarchicaldatabase such as the LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol) userdirectory 36 shown in FIG. 1. Accordingly, when the initial instantmessage 60 is received, the relationship between target user 12 andinitiating user A 44 in the business organization is checked in the LDAPuser directory 36. If the target user 12 is below the initiating user A44 in the business organization hierarchy, then the initial instantmessage 60 is determined to have significant content. In the case thattarget user 12 is at the same level as or above the initiating user A 44in the business organization hierarchy, then the disclosed systemoperates to determine if the initial instant message 60 hasinsignificant content based on other factors, such as word count, etc.

The target user client computer system 10 and initiating user A clientcomputer system 46 may each be embodied as any specific number ofsoftware processes and/or components executing on one or more hardwarecomputer systems. Such computer systems may, for example, each consistof at least one processor, program storage, such as memory or othercomputer readable medium, for storing program code executable on theprocessor, one or more input/output devices and/or interfaces, such asdata communication and/or peripheral devices and/or interfaces, and mayeach further include appropriate operating system software. The clientcomputer systems 10 and 46 may be any specific type of computer systemor other type of client device, such as, for example, desktop computersystems, PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants), cell phones, tablet PCs, orany other appropriate device capable of providing the user interface 14to a user. The client computer systems 10 and 46 may be communicablyconnected using any specific type or kind of data communicationsnetwork, including for example the Internet, a Local Area Network (LAN),or any other specific type of communication system or network.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing steps performed during operation of anillustrative embodiment of the disclosed system. In one embodiment, thesteps of FIG. 2 are performed by the insignificant initial messagefilter logic 22 shown in FIG. 1.

As shown in FIG. 2, at step 70, an initial instant message is receivedfor a new instant messaging session. The initial instant messagereceived at step 70 is received by the client instant messaging softwareassociated with a target user, and is generated and transmitted by aninitiating user through client instant messaging software executing at aremote computer system. The initial instant message received at step 70is the first message received for a new instant messaging session thatthe initiating user is attempting to establish between the initiatinguser and the target user.

At step 72, the disclosed system analyzes the content of the initialinstant message received at step 70 to determine whether the content ofthe initial instant message is insignificant. The determination at step72 may be responsive to rules defined by the target user, and/orconfiguration and preferences settings of the target user. Thedetermination of whether the initial instant message is insignificantmay be based on a number of attributes of the initial instant message,including, for example, the number of words in the initial instantmessage, the identity of the initiating user and whether the initiatinguser is listed in a permitted user list or blocked user list, previousinstant messaging session history with the initiating user, arelationship between the target user and the initiating user within ahierarchy of users, the number of times the initiating user haspreviously sent instant messages having insignificant content attemptingto establish the instant messaging session, and/or other factors.

If the initial instant message received at step 70 is determined to haveinsignificant content at step 72, then step 72 is followed by step 74,in which the disclosed system generates a non-intrusive instantmessaging session notification. Otherwise, if the initial instantmessage received at step 70 is determined have significant content atstep 72, then step 72 is followed by step 82 in which the disclosedsystem generates an intrusive instant messaging session notification.Step 82 is followed by step 84, in which the target user and theinitiating user participate in an instant messaging session during whichmessages are not checked for insignificant content.

Step 74 is followed by step 76, in which the disclosed systemautomatically transmits a pre-composed auto-response message to theinitiating user. The pre-composed auto-response message is automaticallytransmitted to the initiating user without action being taken by thetarget user. Thus the transmission of the pre-composed auto-responsemessage may be completely transparent to the target user, and the targetuser is not interrupted in their work when the pre-composedauto-response message is automatically sent.

At step 78, the disclosed system increments a counter storing the numberof insignificant initial instant messages received from the initiatinguser in attempting to establish the new instant messaging session withthe target user. In one embodiment, if the number of insignificantinitial instant messages received from the initiating user to establishthe new instant messaging session with the target user exceeds a pre-setor user configured threshold, then a subsequently received instantmessage attempting to establish the new instant messaging with thetarget user is considered to have significant content, regardless of itsactual content, and an intrusive instant messaging session notificationis generated to the target user.

At step 80 a subsequent instant message is received for the instantmessaging session that the initiating user is attempting to establishwith the target user. In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the disclosed systemchecks the subsequent instant message received at step 80 to determinewhether it has insignificant content, and follows the same flow as forthe initially received instant message. However, the disclosed systemmay alternatively be embodied to only check the first message of a newinstant messaging session for insignificant content. In such analternative embodiment, step 80 would be followed by step 82.

In another embodiment of the disclosed system, the time taken toterminate an instant messaging session is also reduced by extending thedetermination of insignificant message content detection at step 72 ofFIG. 2 to be responsive to pre-defined and/or user configurableinsignificant farewell message content consisting of certain terms,expressions, and/or acronyms (e.g. “bye”, “see ya”, “ttyl” (talk to youlater), “bfn” (bye for now), “thx” (thanks), or the like). For example,such insignificant farewell message content would not be counted towardsa word count indicating the number of words in the received message, andtherefore would not contribute to meeting any minimum message word countthreshold needed to met for a received initial message to be consideredsignificant. The disclosed system may further be embodied to operatebased on more specific session termination rules, such as rules causingreceived instant messages containing only insignificant farewell contentto be ignored. As a result, if the local user has previously closed aninstant messaging session window containing a session, and then asubsequent message containing only insignificant farewell messagecontent is received, that subsequent message may be handled as a specialcase of an initial message having insignificant content, and no alertindication of receipt of the message (e.g. new instant messaging window,icon in the taskbar, etc.) is generated. Such system behavior regardinginstant messaging session termination may, for example, be definedthrough definition of one or more appropriate message processing rules(e.g. Insignificant Message Detection and Processing Rules 24 in FIG. 1)by the local user (e.g. Target User 12 in FIG. 1).

FIG. 3 shows an insignificant initial instant message filtering userinterface 100, that allows a user, such as the target user 12 of FIG. 1,to indicate to an embodiment of the disclosed system how insignificantinitial instant messages are to be detected. The user interface 100 ofFIG. 3 includes a number of selectable insignificant message detectionoptions 102. The illustrative insignificant message detection options102 shown in FIG. 3 include a word count option 106, through which theuser can indicate a threshold number of words that an initial instantmessage must contain to be considered significant. The word count option106 further enables the user to indicate one or more words that are tobe excluded from being counted when the number of words in the initialinstant message is determined.

A user learning option 108 enables the user to indicate how many instantmessaging sessions can be initiated by an initiating user usinginsignificant initial messages before the disclosed system beginschecking initial instant messages received from that initiating user forinsignificant content. This option, when selected, causes the disclosedsystem to apply insignificant initial message filtering selectively toinitiating users that have previously shown a propensity for usinginitial messages with insignificant content.

A repeated attempts threshold option 110 enables the user to indicate amaximum number of received insignificant initial instant messages thatcan be determined to have insignificant content before an intrusiveinstant messaging notification is generated. This option, when selected,enables the user to prevent the disclosed system from completelyblocking an initiating user that insists on using initial messageshaving insignificant content from starting a new instant messagingsystem.

A permitted users option 112 enables the user to indicate whichinitiating users are not to be blocked from using insignificant initialinstant messages to start new instant messaging sessions. This option,when selected, allows the user to list important persons such as theirboss, wife, etc., such that the disclosed system always generates anintrusive instant messaging session notification when an initial instantmessage is received from one of those important persons, regardless ofwhether the initial message contents is insignificant.

A blocked users option 114 enables the user to indicate which initiatingusers are to always be blocked from causing an intrusive instantmessaging session notification to be generated. The blocked users option114 enables the user to identify those users for whom responding is nottime critical, such that the disclosed system always generates anon-intrusive instant messaging session notification when an initialinstant message is received from one of those users. In an alternativeembodiment, the blocked users option 114 enables the user to list theset of initiating users from whom initial instant messages are to bechecked for insignificant content.

The user is permitted to define their own rules for determining whichinitial instant messages have insignificant content using the ruledefinition option 116, and can enter whatever rule or rules they desire,for example using predetermined keywords, text, and/or logic operators,within the user specific rule definition area 117.

When the user has selected or defined the options 102 that they desireto have applied by the disclosed system, they can press the “OK” button104, and the options will be stored (e.g. in the rules 24 and/orsettings 26 shown in FIG. 1) and applied during processing of receivedinitial instant messages for new instant messaging sessions.

FIG. 4 shows an insignificant initial instant message processing userinterface 120, allowing a user, such as the target user 12 of FIG. 1, toindicate to an embodiment of the disclosed system how insignificantinitial instant messages are to be processed. The user interface 120 ofFIG. 4 includes a number of insignificant message processing options122. The illustrative insignificant message processing options 122 shownin FIG. 4 include an icon notification option 126, that allows the userto cause the disclosed system to provide non-intrusive instant messagingsession notifications consisting of or including displaying an icondisplay object representing the new instant messaging system in the userinterface. A sound notification option 128 enables the user to cause thedisclosed system to generate an audible sound as at least part of anon-intrusive instant messaging session notification.

An automatic response message option 130 enables the user to cause thedisclosed system to automatically generate and send a pre-composedresponse message to an initiating user in response to a received initialinstant message from that user having insignificant content. The text ofthe automatically generated response message consists of, for example,“I have received your message. What is your question?”. The user canalternatively pre-compose the contents of the automatically generatedresponse message by selecting the user defined automatic responsemessage option 132, and entering the desired text into the user definedpre-composed response area 133. When the user has completed selection ofthe options to be used when processing initial instant messages that aredetermined to have insignificant content, the user can click on the “OK”button 124 to cause the selected options to be applied to subsequentlyreceived initial instant messages that are received and determined tohave insignificant content.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that while the options in theillustrative user interfaces shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 are selectablethrough check box display objects, through which options can be selectedby the user clicking on the corresponding check boxes to cause the checkbox to become “checked”, the present invention is not so limited.Accordingly, a user interface for selecting options to be applied wheneither detecting and/or processing initial instant messages withinsignificant content may be provided in alternative embodiments usingany other appropriate user interface mechanism or display objects toenable the user to define and/or select the rules and/or settings thatcontrol how initial messages with insignificant content are detected andprocessed.

As shown in FIG. 5, in another embodiment of the disclosed system,termination of an instant messaging session by the local user isdetected at step 150, for example in response to the local user (e.g.Target User 12 in FIG. 1) closing a user interface window containing aninstant messaging session. The steps of FIG. 5 are, for example,performed by the Insignificant Initial Message Filter Logic 22 shown inFIG. 1. When termination of an instant messaging session by the localuser is detected at step 150, at step 152 the disclosed system enters a“terminated by user” state for a predetermined and/or user configurabletime period (e.g. a few seconds or minutes). During the “terminated byuser” state, at step 154, the disclosed system analyzes the content ofinstant messages received from the participants in the just terminatedinstant messaging session based on session termination logic. In oneembodiment, the session termination logic consists of a special set ofsession termination rules contained in the Insignificant MessageDetection and Processing Rules 24 shown in FIG. 1. At step 154, sessiontermination logic used during the “terminated by user” state entered atstep 152 checks instant messages received from other participants in theinstant messaging session terminated at step 150 for insignificantfarewell content, such as user-specified or pre-configured insignificantfarewell terms, expressions, and/or acronyms. The presence ofinsignificant farewell content in a message at step 152 triggers specialhandling of that message as an insignificant farewell message at step156.

Session termination processing performed at step 156 may, for example,include ignoring messages received from participants in the terminatedinstant messaging session that include only insignificant farewellcontent, not counting insignificant farewell content towards a minimummessage word count in messages received from the participants in theterminated instant messaging session, and/or transmitting a specialtermination related auto-response message (e.g. one of Pre-composedAuto-response Message(s) 34 informing the sender that the local user haschanged his or her attention to a different task). Other appropriatesession termination related actions may also or alternatively performedin response to receipt of insignificant farewell messages from theparticipants in the terminated instant messaging session until the“terminated by user” state is exited after the predetermined time periodat step 158.

The present invention can be realized in hardware, software, or acombination of hardware and software. A system according to the presentinvention can be realized in a centralized fashion in one computersystem, or in a distributed fashion where different elements are spreadacross several interconnected computer systems. Any kind of computersystem or other apparatus adapted for carrying out the methods describedherein is suited. A typical combination of hardware and software couldbe a general purpose computer system with a computer program that, whenbeing loaded and executed, controls the computer system such that itcarries out the methods described herein.

The figures include block diagram and flowchart illustrations ofmethods, apparatus(s) and computer program products according to anembodiment of the invention. It will be understood that each block insuch figures, and combinations of these blocks, can be implemented bycomputer program instructions. These computer program instructions maybe loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processingapparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions which executeon the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus createmeans for implementing the functions specified in the block or blocks.These computer program instructions may also be stored in acomputer-readable medium or memory that can direct a computer or otherprogrammable data processing apparatus to function in a particularmanner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readablemedium or memory produce an article of manufacture including instructionmeans which implement the function specified in the block or blocks. Thecomputer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer orother programmable data processing apparatus to cause a series ofoperational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmableapparatus to produce a computer implemented process such that theinstructions which execute on the computer or other programmableapparatus provide steps for implementing the functions specified in theblock or blocks.

Those skilled in the art should readily appreciate that programsdefining the functions of the present invention can be delivered to acomputer in many forms; including, but not limited to: (a) informationpermanently stored on non-writable storage media (e.g. read only memorydevices within a computer such as ROM or CD-ROM disks readable by acomputer I/O attachment); (b) information alterably stored on writablestorage media (e.g. floppy disks and hard drives); or (c) informationconveyed to a computer through communication media for example usingwireless, baseband signaling or broadband signaling techniques,including carrier wave signaling techniques, such as over computer ortelephone networks via a modem.

While the invention is described through the above exemplaryembodiments, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the artthat modification to and variation of the illustrated embodiments may bemade without departing from the inventive concepts herein disclosed.

We claim:
 1. A method for minimizing the time required to terminate aninstant messaging session, comprising: detecting termination of saidinstant messaging session by a local user, wherein said termination ofsaid instant messaging session includes said local user closing a userinterface window containing said instant messaging session; in responseto said detecting termination of said instant messaging session, for apredetermined time period following said detection of said terminationof said instant messaging session, checking instant messages receivedfrom other participants in said terminated instant messaging session forinsignificant farewell messages, wherein said checking includes checkingthe content of said messages received from other participants in saidterminated instant messaging session for a minimum message word countnot including insignificant farewell content; and in response todetecting an insignificant farewell message, processing the detectedinsignificant farewell message such that said target user is notdisturbed by the detected insignificant farewell message.
 2. The methodof claim 1, wherein said processing of the detected insignificantfarewell message comprises ignoring the detected insignificant farewellmessage.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein said processing of thedetected insignificant farewell message comprises transmitting apre-composed response message to one of said participants in saidterminated instant messaging session that sent the detectedinsignificant farewell message.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein saidinsignificant farewell content includes at least one insignificantfarewell term.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein said insignificantfarewell content includes at least one insignificant farewellexpression.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein said insignificantfarewell content includes at least one insignificant farewell acronym.7. A computer system having hardware including at least one processorcommunicably coupled to a computer readable memory, said computerreadable memory having program code stored thereon for minimizing thetime required to terminate an instant messaging session, said programcode comprising: program code for detecting termination of said instantmessaging session by a local user, wherein said termination of saidinstant messaging session includes said local user closing a userinterface window containing said instant messaging session; program codefor, in response to said detecting termination of said instant messagingsession, for a predetermined time period following said detection ofsaid termination of said instant messaging session, checking instantmessages received from other participants in said terminated instantmessaging session for insignificant farewell messages, wherein saidchecking includes checking the content of said messages received fromother participants in said terminated instant messaging session for aminimum message word count not including insignificant farewell content;and program code for, in response to detecting an insignificant farewellmessage, processing the detected insignificant farewell message suchthat said target user is not disturbed by the detected insignificantfarewell message.
 8. The system of claim 7, wherein said program codefor processing of the detected insignificant farewell message processesthe detected insignificant farewell message by ignoring the detectedinsignificant farewell message.
 9. The system of claim 7, wherein saidprogram code for processing of the detected insignificant farewellmessage processes the detected insignificant farewell message transmitsa pre-composed response message to one of said participants in saidterminated instant messaging session that sent the detectedinsignificant farewell message.
 10. The system of claim 7, wherein saidinsignificant farewell content includes at least one insignificantfarewell term.
 11. The system of claim 7, wherein said insignificantfarewell content includes at least one insignificant farewellexpression.
 12. The system of claim 7, wherein said insignificantfarewell content includes at least one insignificant farewell acronym.13. A computer program product, comprising: a non-signal computerreadable storage medium, said computer readable storage medium havingprogram code stored thereon for minimizing the time required toterminate an instant messaging session, said program code comprising:program code for detecting termination of said instant messaging sessionby a local user, wherein said termination of said instant messagingsession includes said local user closing a user interface windowcontaining said instant messaging session; program code for, in responseto said detecting termination of said instant messaging session, for apredetermined time period following said detection of said terminationof said instant messaging session, checking instant messages receivedfrom other participants in said terminated instant messaging session forinsignificant farewell messages, wherein said checking includes checkingthe content of said messages received from other participants in saidterminated instant messaging session for a minimum message word countnot including insignificant farewell content; and program code for, inresponse to detecting an insignificant farewell message, processing thedetected insignificant farewell message such that said target user isnot disturbed by the detected insignificant farewell message.
 14. Thecomputer program product of claim 13, wherein said program code forprocessing of the detected insignificant farewell message processes thedetected insignificant farewell message by ignoring the detectedinsignificant farewell message.
 15. The computer program product ofclaim 13, wherein said program code for processing of the detectedinsignificant farewell message processes the detected insignificantfarewell message transmits a pre-composed response message to one ofsaid participants in said terminated instant messaging session that sentthe detected insignificant farewell message.
 16. The computer programproduct of claim 13, wherein said insignificant farewell contentincludes at least one insignificant farewell term.
 17. The computerprogram product of claim 13, wherein said insignificant farewell contentincludes at least one insignificant farewell expression.
 18. Thecomputer program product of claim 13, wherein said insignificantfarewell content includes at least one insignificant farewell acronym.